Why Health Informatics?

• The healthcare industry is growing quickly as one of the most important segments of modern society.
• In the January 21, 2009 issue of the Wall Street Journal (p. B7): “The Obama administration’s plan to invest $50 billion over five years to encourage broader adoption of health information technology is expected to include additional incentives for electronic prescribing.” 
• The industry accounts for a major portion of public spending. It is important to each of us as a person. It is driven by constant pressures to innovate and perform well. And, not very surprisingly, it is also an industry full of challenges and hopes.
• Health information management is central to effective and efficient delivery of healthcare. The tools of health informatics - computers, the Internet, telehealth and other potentially powerful technologies - are an integral part of everyday environment of healthcare professionals.
• Understanding the fundamental nature of information and communication systems in the delivery of healthcare and the ability to develop and evaluate the impact of these systems is critical for the effective and efficient delivery of healthcare.
• An increasing investment in the biotech industry and recent initiatives to digitize health information has created a strong demand for health informatics professionals.
• The explosion of medical and biological information has resulted in major advances in the management of information that is essential for health professionals. Health informatics professionals specialize in the management of this information in support of health professionals.

The healthcare industry is information intensive. Up-to-date and reliable information about patient conditions is essential for providing medical services. Information is also required to coordinate the many organizations and people involved in each medical service. Finally, information is needed to administrate the complex economical transactions involved in the industry.

Unfortunately, the intensiveness, complexity and amount of health information have presented considerable challenges in adopting information technology to increase the efficiency and enhance the quality of medical services. Innovation of the healthcare industry is therefore highly dependent on skilled people with competencies in Health Informatics.